# Chapter 26: The Spy's Way of Survival
"You did so many things for Aleister, just to see me? I don't think I have that kind of charm."
Motoharu Tsuchimikado had been standing at the door the whole time. He knew how dangerous Su Xiao was—this was definitely a ruthless killer who wouldn't blink an eye.
"No need to be so wary. If something happened to you on my watch, I wouldn't be able to get past Aleister, and other forces would come looking for trouble with me."
After his mind was no longer affected, Su Xiao was noticeably calmer and more clear-headed in his actions.
"It's just a mutually exploitative relationship."
Tsuchimikado walked into the room and sat down on the sofa. He always wore sunglasses, doing so to prevent others from seeing his eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul, and as a spy, having others see through your thoughts meant death wasn't far off.
From the original story, Tsuchimikado seemed like a carefree young man, but that wasn't the case at all. He was meticulous and calm in his dealings. However, unlike other spies, he would risk everything for his friends, and to protect his non-blood-related sister, he wouldn't care even if he had to make enemies of the entire world.
"You came to see me for some kind of information? Other than that, I can't think of any other possibility."
Tsuchimikado interlaced his fingers and leaned forward.
"Of course. I came to Academy City to find something."
"What is it?"
"The Final Spiritual Codex. That's what it should be called."
"..."
Tsuchimikado fell silent. His eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses. After a long while, he sighed.
"Sorry, that thing might no longer exist in this world. Your efforts are destined to be a waste of time."
Tsuchimikado stood up and walked toward the door.
"To find that thing, I'll do many things I don't want to do."
Su Xiao, sitting on the bed, smiled as he watched Tsuchimikado. Tsuchimikado stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at Su Xiao.
"You..."
Tsuchimikado's voice was low, his jaw muscles bulging.
"If you dare touch the people around me, even if I have to make a deal with a demon god, I'll drag you down to hell with me."
Tsuchimikado adjusted his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.
"It seems you've misunderstood something."
Su Xiao had no intention of threatening Tsuchimikado by targeting the people around him. That would be the least efficient choice. If he did that, the reliability of the information obtained would be greatly compromised.
"To be precise, I still don't know what the Final Spiritual Codex actually is. Don't be so surprised. I'm not looking for it to gain its power or knowledge or anything like that. My goal is simply to find it. That's all."
"Find the Final Spiritual Codex..."
Tsuchimikado pondered for a moment, then seemed to think of something.
"The organization you're in wants you to bring back the Final Spiritual Codex?"
"More broadly, just find it. If the situation becomes critical, I can destroy the thing at any time."
"Sorry, I don't trust you."
Tsuchimikado shook his head. He knew what the Final Spiritual Codex was—it was extremely dangerous.
"Think it over carefully. Look at what I've done just to meet you. You can think of it this way: I risked helping Aleister kill a saint from the magic side just for a clue before. If I can't get any leads on the Final Spiritual Codex..."
Su Xiao didn't continue. If he failed to complete the third-rank promotion mission, with all attributes reduced by 10, death wouldn't be far off. This was a life-or-death choice.
After a long while, Tsuchimikado sighed and sat back down on the sofa.
"If I don't provide the leads, we go to hell together? And it has nothing to do with the people around me?"
"You can think of it that way."
"This is absolutely a disaster I didn't deserve. There are people waiting for me to come back for dinner."
Tsuchimikado relaxed his entire body, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. A gentle breeze blew in from the window, causing the white curtains to flutter.
"The Final Spiritual Codex, also known as the Evil Spirit Grimoire. Black magic, forbidden magic—compared to what's recorded in the Final Spiritual Codex, those are child's play. There are rumors that the thing was created to destroy the balance of this world's structure. It's a power that transcends the elements. To put it simply, it's collapse—the collapse of all matter, achieving a permanent destructive effect."
Tsuchimikado paused there.
"Now you know how dangerous the thing you're looking for is. So give up as soon as possible."
"Continue."
Su Xiao extended his hand, signaling Tsuchimikado to go on. Tsuchimikado's mouth twisted as he quickly thought things over. He had only come to meet Su Xiao after receiving a message from Aleister.
"About 400 years ago, the techniques recorded in the Final Spiritual Codex were mastered by a certain mage. Unexpectedly, the first time that mage used the power of the Final Spiritual Codex, he self-destructed, taking an entire city with him to the grave. When the Cross Church learned of this, they sent people to find the Final Spiritual Codex. In the end, they publicly announced that the Final Spiritual Codex had been found and stored among the forbidden magic books. In reality, they never found it.
"300 years ago, another mage discovered the Final Spiritual Codex. The same scene as 400 years ago played out—that mage exploded and died. However, he didn't destroy a town; he self-destructed beside a lake.
"After that mage died, the Cross Church arrived at the scene immediately. It was said that the water in that lake turned into a gaseous form. Everything that came into contact with that gaseous water was completely decomposed. The destructive power of that gaseous water was astonishing, and it would drift with the wind. The Cross Church spent over a decade just to settle the matter. Strangely enough, the Final Spiritual Codex disappeared again."
Tsuchimikado narrated the origin and danger level of the Final Spiritual Codex to Su Xiao.
"So it's some kind of technique? Once mastered, it's somewhat like a one-time high-power weapon?"
Su Xiao was a bit puzzled. If that was all, Tsuchimikado wouldn't have needed to hem and haw earlier, hiding information about the Final Spiritual Codex. Of course, the information about the Final Spiritual Codex was just Tsuchimikado's one-sided account.
"If it were only that, the Final Spiritual Codex wouldn't be too dangerous. But there's one thing that makes it one of the most dangerous grimoires: things destroyed by that power cannot be restored. Take that lake, for example. To this day, it remains a bottomless sinkhole. The Cross Church tried to fill it in but couldn't do it at all. Within the rules of the world, that place has already collapsed and been destroyed. It can never be repaired by any method. Whether you fill it with dirt or pile it with stones, as long as it passes midnight, it reverts to a sinkhole. The filling materials don't return to their original positions—they disappear, vanish from the world."
After hearing Tsuchimikado's description, Su Xiao understood the general function of the Final Spiritual Codex. It recorded a technique or spell. Things destroyed by that power were essentially erased from 'existence'—irreversible destruction.
"Is that all? Do you think I would study the techniques recorded in it and then find a big city to die together with it?"
Su Xiao's words made Tsuchimikado laugh bitterly.
"Of course not. The Final Spiritual Codex is indeed dangerous, but its practical value isn't high. Moreover, every time someone masters the techniques recorded in it, the Final Spiritual Codex mysteriously disappears for a long time."
"Then why not tell me where it is? I'll make it disappear permanently."
"I can't do that."
Tsuchimikado looked somewhat helpless.
"The truth is... I don't actually know the exact location of that thing. Do you believe me?"
"No."
"I knew you'd say that. I might have been infected by someone's misfortune."
Tsuchimikado sighed.
"However... there's been a rumor recently. Just a rumor. Someone has discovered the Final Spiritual Codex, and that person is planning to do something with it."
"Tell me who that person is, and we'll pretend we've never met. From now on, no more entanglements."
"I've been waiting for you to say that."
Whether it was the earlier 'falling out' or the 'painful struggle,' Tsuchimikado had been waiting for Su Xiao to say those words. After providing the information, the two would have no further connection. This was the result Tsuchimikado most wanted—and the spy's way of survival.
"Kihara."
Tsuchimikado only said two words before standing up and walking out.
"Kihara Manyu?"
Su Xiao spoke.
"An older generation one."
Tsuchimikado closed the door. As soon as he stepped out of the room, he let out a long sigh.
"Kihara clan, don't blame me. This was your own choice."